Frequently Asked Questions

How should I care for my jewelry?

Precious metals are easy to care for. For bright sterling silver that has simply tarnished, clean it with a rouge cloth, such as Connoisseur’s Jewelry Cloths, or use silver polish. For oxidized jewelry, wipe the unoxidized portions very gently with a silver cloth. If you accidentally remove the oxidation, please send the piece to us and we can re-oxidize it for a small fee. For jewelry that contains precious stones or pearls, never put it in any liquid solution such as Tarnex or in an ultrasonic cleaner unless you know for sure that it is safe to do so. I also don't recommend using toothpaste to clean your jewelry - too many different formulations on the market that may or may not be safe for jewelry.

I like the design of a piece on your site. Can I order it in a different stone or metal?

Many of our pieces can be easily adapted to a different stone or metal. Please contact us by phone or email to discuss. Changing the stone or metal may result in a different price. We will quote you the price for any custom work. Check out our Custom Ordering page for more info.

How can I be sure the piece will fit?

All the jewelry on our site has been sized to a woman’s size Medium. The bracelets are approximately 7 1/2 - 8 inches long and the necklaces 18 inches, unless otherwise stated in the description. If you need a different size, please contact us so that we can produce a piece that’s the correct size for you. Ordering a larger size may result in a price increase due to the amount of materials used.

If I need a different size, how do I order it?

Please contact us by phone or email so that we can help you determine how to measure to get the best fit.

I don’t have pierced ears. Can I still order the earrings I like?

Many of the styles we sell are easily adaptable to clip-on styles. Please contact us by phone or email to discuss. The price of the earring may vary depending on the type of clip used.

How often will your prices change?

We are committed to keeping our web site prices current. Although there has been tremendous fluctuation in the prices of precious metals in the last few years, we will try to limit the fluctuation in our prices on our site as much as possible. Please be assured that the price that you see on the web site when you order is the price you will be charged.

Glossary of Jewelry Terms

Sterling Silver

Must be 925/1000 (92.5%) fine silver and 75/1000 (7.5%) copper. The proportion is fixed by law.

Fine Silver

Silver that is 99.9% fine or higher.

Reticulated Silver

Sterling silver is heated until the copper oxidizes on the surface. As the surface is cleaned, the copper is removed, leaving a surface nearly pure in silver content. This causes the surface to have a higher melting temperature than the alloy within. When the metal is heated again, this will cause the surface to become embellished with a vein-like texture called reticulation.The appearance of the surface changes depending on the amount of heat used and the number of times the piece is heated.

Karat Gold

A measure of fineness; 24 karat is the finest gold - 100%. One karat equals 1/24 (4.17%), so that 14 karats is 14/24 fine gold and the balance (10/24) alloy. If the gold content of an alloy is less than 10/24 the object cannot be represented as karat gold.

Gold-filled

Bonding of a layer (or layers) of gold alloy to a base metal and then rolling or drawing the metal to the desired thickness. The gold content must be 1/20th or more of the total weight of the metal in the piece. Jewelry contains markings that indicate how much and what type of gold was used in the layer. Example: a marking of "1/20 12K G.F." means that the piece is at least 1/20th 12K gold by weight.

Vermeil

A metal product that is made from a base of sterling silver that has been coated or plated on its surfaces with gold of at least 10K fineness and at least 2.5 microns thick (100/1,000,000 inch).

18 k Bimetal

A layer of 18 karat gold alloy is bonded with sterling silver to form a sheet of precious metal with two distinct surfaces. The gold layer is similar to that of most gold-filled products and has comparable working characteristics. Composition by weight: 5.00% 18 karat gold; 95.00% sterling silver.

Alloy

A combination of two or more metals usually formulated to provide or increase desired properties such as; ductility, conductivity, or durability. Sterling silver is an alloy of fine silver and copper.

Keum-boo

A Korean technique for applying 22 or 24k gold to silver. Keum-boo offers dramatically rich colors and beautiful textural possibilities.

Saltwater and Freshwater Pearls

Saltwater pearls originate within a saltwater mollusk. Freshwater pearls grow inside of a freshwater mollusk — one that lives in a river or a lake. Both saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls can be either natural or cultured. Cultured pearls grow inside of a mollusk, but with human intervention. The shell is carefully opened and an object or irritant is inserted. This causes the mollusk to secrete nacre, a combination of crystalline and organic substances. As the nacre builds up in layers, it surrounds the irritant and eventually forms a pearl.

Cloisonné

A multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items. A design of fine silver wires is filled with enamel and then fired.

Champlevé

An enamelling technique in which cells are carved into the surface of a metal object and filled with enamel. The piece is then fired until the enamel melts, and when cooled, the surface of the object is polished. The uncarved portions of the original surface remain visible as a frame for the enamel designs.

Need more information ?

If you would like more information on any of the glossary items listed above or have questions about other jewelry-related terms or definitions please . This would also be a good time to add your name to our online mailing list so that you can hear the latest news from Cathy Heinz Designs!